Authorities arrest five during another counter-terrorism operation launched in R. Maduvvari

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested five individuals throughout a special operation launched once again in order to seek out those supporting and spreading extremist ideologies in Maduvvari island of Raa atoll.

RaajjeMV understands from a credible source that officers are to search “Aisha”, a house on the island which was raided during late December 2019 as well, under allegations of violent extremism. The raid is being conducted under a court order.

Hussain Siyad, an individual accused of spreading extremist ideologies, is believed to reside in this house. He was among the three individuals arrested on January 7, during the previous operation, conducted in cooperation with the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

The five individuals, all Maldivian men, were arrested under a court order, and one of them has been taken under police custody.

RaajjeMV understands that over 20 officers clad in riot-gear are active on the island and they will be raiding other households as well.

The operation, police revealed is prompted by a group of individuals residing in an uninhabited island in Raa atoll and making frequent and unauthorized trips to nearby islands and resorts to inflict damage on property as well as carry out thefts. This comes at a time unauthorized travel between inhabited islands has been banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has provoked a State of Public Health Emergency as well.

Sources report that a group of "strangers", natives of Ungoofaaru island in Raa atoll residing in “Aisha”, had attempted to return to Ungoofaaru and officers had stopped the speedboat on which they were traveling.

On December 18, 2019, officers began an operation, prompted by the case of a 13-year-old child bride having given birth in the island after being raped and impregnated by a man, Ismail Hammaadh and six arrests were made. Officers also discovered another pregnant 13-year-old child bride and took her under the protection of authorities, also having arrested the parents of the previously-discovered child bride.

Maduvvari is deemed to have a large community supporting extremism, recruiting individuals to terrorist organizations as well as obstructing the rights of children and women that separates itself from the society by supporting extremist ideologies, expressing interest in joining foreign conflicts and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, neglecting their children medical rights such as vaccination as well as keeping their women locked up and imprisoned at home.